Riz Ortolani

Riziero "Riz" Ortolani (March 25, 1926 – January 23, 2014) was a distinguished Italian film composer celebrated for his contributions to over 300 films, particularly within genres such as Mondo, Giallo, and Spaghetti Westerns. His career spanned several decades and included notable collaborations with Hollywood. One of Ortolani's most iconic pieces, "More," composed for the controversial film *Mondo Cane*, garnered him a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Theme in 1964 and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 36th Academy Awards. The song was famously covered by artists including Frank Sinatra and Andy Williams.

Born in Pesaro, Italy, Ortolani grew up in a musical family, receiving his first violin at the age of four. After a car accident led him to pivot from violin to flute, he honed his skills at the Conservatorio Statale di Musica "Gioachino Rossini" before moving to Rome in 1948, where he began working with the RAI orchestra. In the early 1950s, he formed a prominent jazz ensemble and ventured to Hollywood.

His prolific scoring included works for acclaimed films such as *The Yellow Rolls-Royce* (1964), *The Spy with a Cold Nose* (1966), and *The Valachi Papers* (1972). Ortolani's music continued to resonate in modern cinema, featured in films like *Drive* (2011) and *Django Unchained* (2012). In recognition of his lifetime achievements, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Soundtrack Academy in 2013. Ortolani passed away at the age of 87 in Rome.